How to upgrade your home with DIY stenciling

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You crave change, but your courage is lacking. We get it. Commitment is tough.

When it comes to home décor, most improvements involve taking a plunge of some kind. Adding wallpaper, replacing tiles, buying new furniture—say hello to decision making and consequence taking.

If you’re trigger shy, there are still ways to easily change up your living space without having to make expensive and drastic decisions. A bit of know-how, a great stencil, and the right paints can have you updating (read: transforming) pretty much anything.

“Stenciling is the perfect solution to customize your home without the hassle or expense of a reno,” says Kali Lennon of Taylor Spaces in Hingham, Massachusetts. “It’s absolutely the most affordable and beautiful alternative to give a facelift to any space.”
Lennon offers some tips for DIY stencil painting that allow you to turn blank surfaces into “wallpaper,” decorate boring floor tiles, and add depth to a ceiling. The only commitment you need to make is time.

What you'll need

Before ordering a ton of new materials online, try to hunt down some key materials in your home—you might have more than you think and can reduce the number of online orders you’ll have to wait on. Here are the basics you’ll need:

How to DIY stencil paint

Step 1: Prep and paint

Credit: Getty Images / Valeriy_G

Before stenciling a surface, tape off your work area

To Lennon, the most critical step in the layering process is advance preparation.
Start by taping around your work area. “If you’re in a bathroom, you may want to go around the toilet, base of the tub, sink, etc.,” she suggests, adding that regular painter’s tape does the trick.

“Next, be sure your surface is clean and clear of debris and sanded or lightly scuffed so that you are starting with a porous surface,” she adds. “You will want to use a high quality bonding, water-based primer.” Zinsser and Kilz are good brand options. “I would recommend at least two coats on the entire surface, and then letting this layer dry for at least 24 hours.”

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Since it’s all about that base, you’ll want to layer on at least two coats of your base paint color. A water-based latex paint in a matte finish is best for stenciling. You can go high end with paint, but less expensive hardware store brands at The Home Depot and Lowe's also work well. Let this layer dry for 24 hours.

Once you’ve chosen a stencil pattern or design that fits well within the space, Lennon says, “be sure you have a level. Map out your pattern so you have an idea where the pattern will start and finish.”

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Take your time. Depending on the base surface that’s being painted, you can reach for a small foam roller or a circular stencil brush to ensure you’re covering all of the surface variations.

“Keep in mind that painting the stencil is a slow and steady process,” she warns. In other words, slow your roll. “You will need to use less paint on the roller or brush than you think, but will need to keep layering to get full coverage.” Before moving on, align the registration marks on the stencil so you will be able to continue the pattern seamlessly.

Once you have completed stencil painting your surface, you may need to go back for touch up. “This can be time consuming, but will make your work impeccable,” explains Lennon.

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Step 3: Finish with a top coat

Credit: Taylor Spaces

This hallway, stenciled by Kali Lennon of Taylor Spaces, looks completely different in these before and after DIY project images.

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